SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Many times we make statements or send messages simply by wearing certain clothing, or by posting a sign on a door or even the front of a prominent Baltimore church.

Exhibit A= I am not sure what this message means, but obviously there are some liquor issues involved. I bet one of the thousands of people who attend this megachurch would be more than willing to explain it me at some point.

Exhibit B=This sign is posted proudly on a back door of a building near the Baltimore Police Department and the Block. One might ask why I was in the area, but that's for another blog at another time. One might also ask why the door was propped open for about 30 minutes when the sign clearly states it is not good to do that. Anyways (that's Baltimore talk for moving along) Nonetheless, the sign sure does send me a message. A loud and clear one.

Exhibit C=Gotta love the neighborhood kid making a political statement. This 10-year-old is proudly displaying his support for the former Baltimore County Exec, Roger B. Hayden, on his body. The little devil (the neighborhood boy, not Hayden), is slightly behind the times, though. Hayden was in the seat in the early 90's. The kid was born in 1999. I asked him who Hayden is. His face went blank. I asked him to name the current mayor of his city and current governor of his state. The face goes blank again. Perhaps he, along with his hugging pal, should invest some time in learning the names of political leaders instead of running through my yard. That would send me and their family a message.

MARYLAND SEAFOOD

Boy, do I love being a Marylander. The history, the people, the architecture of the homes and other structures and most of all, the illegal signs posted around Baltimore City advertising crabs. Now, don't get me wrong, I love seafood, especially crabs, as much as anybody else. As a matter of fact, my birthday is Friday, the 26th, the one day I usually treat myself to different types of seafood. I think I will do that tomorrow. I will be sure to play it safe, though, and get my crabs from a well recognized and licensed establishment. Happy eating!

Angela

BATHROOMS

bath·room (From Merriam-Webster)
noun
Date:
1780
1 : a room containing a bathtub or shower and usually a sink and toilet

Many of you know how paranoid I am about dirt and germs. I don't walk around wearing gloves or a plastic suit all day, but I am known to keep a bottle or two of hand sanitizer around me. I am also known to stick my nose up about a dirty environment, especially a bathroom. Bathrooms should be clean, safe, comfortable, loving places, but we know public ones are normally not like that. I don't know too many folks who get off using a bathroom outside their own home, but when you have to go, you have to go. Bathrooms are a place where you are exposing your privates and your privates are coming in contact with places that other privates have come in touch with. Doorknobs, toilet seats, sinks, faucet handles, paper towel dispensers, countertops, etc. all should be kept clean, but they are filthy!!! The past few weeks, I have seen some very strange things going on in and around bathrooms and I want to share some of them with you. Whether you call it a bathroom, lavatory, restroom, ladies' room or mens' room, if you are in a public one at Lexington Market, Market Place, a medical center in Randallstown, a body shop in Remington, you never quite know what to expect when you open the door. BTW, I can honestly say that until a few days ago, I had never seen a urinal in a ladies' bathroom. And, No, I did not use it.

MY DAUGHTER'S NEW FRIENDS

Sometimes life deals you some really strange surprises. Early Saturday morning, my daughter and I were walking to the hospital so she could have lab work done. We were casually strolling along Wilkens Avenue about 8 in the morning when out of the blue comes this dog running towards us and starting jumping on Nisha. I started screaming, kicking and beating this "beast" with my pocketbook when Nisha started screaming for me to "stop killing it". The dog (Jaspur as his name) was not attacking her as I thought, he was playing with her. He started chasing her in circles (around my legs), licking her hands and jumping on her chest. I had never seen anything like this. While they were cozying up to one another, I was left standing there looking like nothing less than an absolute idiot. My legs were weak, my heart was beating out of my chest and I may have had some unscheduled body activity happen. The dog's owner, who was watching the event from her porch, got a real kick out of what was going on and eventually I did, too. The owner said Jaspur is often around her young grandchildren and he gets frisky with all kids. Like most people, Nisha does not like having blood sucked out of her body. She asked if we could walk to the lab that time instead going in the car. She said if we walked, it would take longer and maybe the lab workers would be gone. I had not planned on walking along Frederick Avenue, Caton Avenue and Wilkens Avenue back and forth that early Saturday morning, but I sure am glad I did. Nisha made two new friends who made her lab visit a sweet one. Meeting Jaspur and his owner in Violetville sure did make a little girl's day. Thank you, Jaspur.

I LOVE FLAG DAY

Tattered Flag In St. Joseph's Neighborhood
Southwest Baltimore City



My Girl, 8-Year-Old Nisha Crystal Jackson
In Front Of Her House (And Mine)

Like all of you, there are many days in the year that I absolutely love. Christmas, Easter, and St. Patrick's Day of course, but there are some others that don't make everyone's list - Constitution Day, Groundhog Day, and today, June 14th, Flag Day to name a few. I chose to start my blogging adventure on this day because I just love Flag Day, always have and always will. Although not an official U.S. holiday yet, it is a holiday in my mind and at my house. You can tell from Nisha's (above) face, that she loves the day as much as I do. Moving on, Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag many moons ago. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14th as Flag Day. In 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress. Now that you know some of the "holiday's" background, let us move on to what I really want to talk about - tattered and unsightly flags. There aren't too many things that are more beautiful to me than a United States flag displayed proudly outside a home or building, being waved by parade participants or being held by a young schoolchild while reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. On the other side of all that beauty you will sometimes find a not so good-looking Old Glory. Weatherbeaten, tattered, run-down flags. We have all seen them here and there. What do you think when you see a sad, faded, not so proudly displayed flag? My heart drops and I wonder if the person who is responsible for the flag sees the same thing I do. What I see is disrespect in its greatest form for one of the most incredible looking symbols of Americanism I can think of - red, white, blue, stars, and stripes all at the same time, at the same gathering place. By the way, I don't know if Americanism is a word yet, but you get my point. If your flag has seen its better days, please dispose of it properly and purchase a new one. I bet you deserve it.

Happy Flag Day.

Angela